As Huo Yuhao turned to leave, his steps were unhurried, showing no reluctance to linger. He had already achieved his purpose in his brief encounter with Xue Qinghe. His black robe gleamed with a dark luster in the sunlight outside the Moonlight Pavilion.
"Brother Huo!"
A clear voice called from behind. Huo Yuhao's lips curled up almost imperceptibly, a glint of triumph flashing in his eyes. Now, it was up to this prince to decide whether or not to make a powerful friend.
Huo Yuhao was an expert at building trust.
This is especially true for someone with a special status like Xue Qinghe, also known as Qian Renxue.
He slowly turned around, a hint of doubt subtly appearing in his Golden Pupils: "So it's Brother Xue. May I ask what brings you here?"
Xue Qinghe hurried after him, his magnificent princely robes gleaming in the sunlight. A sincere smile graced his face, "I apologize for disturbing you. I felt an immediate connection with Brother Huo upon meeting you at the Moonlight Pavilion earlier."
Huo Yuhao nodded slightly, gazing intently at the other person. "Brother Xue, you're too kind."
Xue Qinghe took a few steps closer and lowered his voice, saying, "Brother Huo, since you are from the Spirit Hall, you must hold a high position, right?"
"Oh?" Huo Yuhao raised an eyebrow, revealing just the right amount of surprise. "Why do you say that, Brother Xue?"
"Back then at the Soul Fighting Arena," Xue Qinghe's eyes flashed with a shrewd light, "Brother Huo, you only intervened because of the Spirit Hall, right? Speaking of which, seeing your close relationship with Saintess Hu Liena of the Spirit Hall at the Soul Fighting Arena, I deduced that your position within the Spirit Hall is extraordinary."
Huo Yuhao glanced sideways at Xue Qinghe beside him, a hint of amusement flashing in his Golden Pupils: "Brother Xue seems particularly concerned about the Spirit Hall's affairs?"
Xue Qinghe remained composed, maintaining his perfect smile, "As the Heaven Dou Crown Prince, it's natural to have some knowledge of all the various forces. Moreover..." He gave Huo Yuhao a meaningful look, "A young talent like Brother Huo is worth befriending."
Upon hearing this, Huo Yuhao shook his head with feigned helplessness and chuckled, "I see. To be honest, I was ashamed to say that I only met the Holy Maiden by chance in the Star Dou Great Forest. She saw that my strength was decent, and by some twist of fate, she introduced me to the Spirit Hall. In the end, it was just a coincidence."
A look of understanding flashed in Xue Qinghe's eyes, and he said eagerly, "I see. With Brother Huo's strength, you must be on par with the Holy Maiden in the Spirit Hall, a Holy Son, right?"
Huo Yuhao smiled slightly, his eyes deep and reserved, his tone humble. "Her Highness the Saintess's favor is due to my own merit; as for my strength... I am merely a person with superhuman strength."
Xue Qinghe maintained a gentle, jade-like smile, but her heart was in turmoil. She gritted her teeth inwardly. "All that power?! He almost exposed my identity in just one exchange, and you call that all that power? And what was that all he said during his battle with Clear Sky Douluo...?"
He suppressed his emotions and said loudly, "Brother Huo, you are too modest. Luck is also a kind of strength. To be valued so highly by Her Saintess, you owe your success to both luck and strength."
Huo Yuhao's lips curled slightly as he looked directly at Xue Qinghe, changing the subject. "Your Highness Xue, you didn't come here today specifically to probe my background, did you? What advice do you have for me?"
Xue Qinghe chuckled softly, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes. "Brother Huo is indeed perceptive, with excellent judgment. Indeed, I do have something to discuss with you, Brother Huo." He paused slightly, his tone sincere and firm. "I wish to win you over, Brother Huo, to work for me. What are your thoughts, Brother Huo?"
Huo Yuhao raised an eyebrow, a half-smile playing on his lips, "Oh? Your Highness Xue is quite straightforward, skipping even the formalities."
Xue Qinghe stepped forward, his voice seductive. "To a clever man like Brother Huo, beating around the bush would only seem hypocritical. Come on, Brother Huo, choose me, and I will give you everything you want—money, women, status, everything—as long as you choose me."
Huo Yuhao pretended to ponder for a moment, then shook his head and said, "The conditions offered by the First Prince are indeed excellent, but when it comes to matters of the heart, how can one give up halfway? I also very much want to choose the First Prince, but there's nothing I can do."
Just as a hint of regret flashed in Xue Qinghe's eyes, Huo Yuhao suddenly changed the subject. "However..."
He took a step forward, his black robes billowing even without wind. "Although I cannot be recruited by the Crown Prince, I still wish to befriend such a figure as him. I would be more than willing to offer him assistance, but there would be a price to pay. What I have always wanted is an equal relationship, not mutual exploitation. Wouldn't it be better to be friends?"
Upon hearing this, Xue Qinghe was taken aback at first, then chuckled softly, his clear laughter carrying an undisguised delight. A strange light flickered in his eyes, and a ripple of emotion stirred within him. "Brother Huo, you are truly... extremely interesting." He leaned slightly forward, his tone playful, "I'm really... growing more and more fond of you."
Huo Yuhao raised an eyebrow, about to respond, when Xue Qinghe changed the subject, speaking sincerely, "Since Brother Huo is willing to treat me as a friend, then I won't stand on ceremony—there is indeed something else I'd like to ask for Brother Huo's assistance with."
"Oh?" A knowing glint flashed in Huo Yuhao's eyes, and a slight smile appeared on his lips. "Brother Xue, you wouldn't happen to be inviting me to hunt for Soul Ring together, would you?"
Upon hearing this, Xue Qinghe's eyes flickered slightly, surprised. "He actually guessed my intentions?" Huo Yuhao also pondered to himself, "This guy is thinking the same thing as me." Huo Yuhao had originally planned to use the excuse of having an empty Soul Ring to lure Xue Qinghe into hunting for Soul Ring with him, but he wasn't sure if he could succeed. Unexpectedly, Xue Qinghe had delivered himself to his doorstep.
Xue Qinghe sighed softly, feigning helplessness, and said, "I'm ashamed to say that my cultivation has recently made a breakthrough, and I need a suitable Soul Ring. I originally planned to ask the Imperial General or a senior for help, but since Brother Huo is here..." He raised his eyes to look directly at Huo Yuhao, his tone sincere, "With Brother Huo's strength, if you could come along, it would surely be twice as effective. Of course, I will certainly not shortchange Brother Huo in terms of reward."
Huo Yuhao laughed heartily and said cheerfully, "Brother Xue, why be so formal? Since we are friends, I should do my best to help you!" After saying that, he naturally put his hand on Xue Qinghe's shoulder, closing the distance between them in a friendly manner.
Xue Qinghe's body stiffened abruptly. Although she was dressed as a man, she was ultimately a woman. At this moment, with Huo Yuhao suddenly so close, her heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively raised her hand to push him away, her voice slightly hurried. "Brother Huo, this..."
Huo Yuhao, however, didn't care at all and instead smiled even more brightly. After all, having "lived together" with Wang Dong'er for a long time, he had long been used to all kinds of reactions to "a woman dressed as a man" and was completely immune to it.
He deliberately moved closer and teased, "What's wrong, Heaven Dou Empire Xue? Are you afraid to put your arm around someone's shoulder?"
Xue Qinghe's ears turned slightly red. She barely managed to steady herself, and feigned composure as she brushed his hand away, clearing her throat lightly. "Brother Huo is joking... I'm just not used to being so close to people."
A sly glint flashed in Huo Yuhao's eyes, but he stopped teasing him. He took a step back, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said with a smile, "Since that's the case, the matter of hunting for Soul Ring is settled. When to depart is entirely up to Brother Xue."
Xue Qinghe secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but the corners of his lips involuntarily turned up. "Alright, then... thank you very much, Brother Huo."
P. S.: I'm experiencing some writer's block. Qian Renxue is a really difficult character to write, but I still really like her...